Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-09-04

Military Academy. 1t is stated that his
transfer to West Point from Washing
ton, where he had been. continuously
for more than twenty years, was deter
mined upon because the Secretary OF
War is opposed to army officers remain
Ing in Washington more than four
wears. Being within four years OF the
time OF his compulsory retirement and
in recognition OF his eminent services
as an engineer officer, it was also
thought advisable to set the precedent
of having the highest branch of the SER
vice represented in the administration
Of affairs at West Point.
General John q. Parke was born IN
Pennsylvania and appointed from that
State to the Military Academy July !,
1915. Re graduated therefrom in July,
1919, and the same day was appointed
second lieutenant in the Typographical
Engineers. As such be served in deter
mining the "initial point of the
boundary line OF the States OF Iowa and
Minnesota in 1880. He then served
in the Department OF New Mexico in
1SJO-51, and on the survey of
the Little Colorado river and in
New Mexico in 1912. The
Young officer was secretary of the
Board for the Improvement Of Lakes,
Harbors, and Western Rivers in 1852
So; in charge OF the survey for the
Pacific railroad on the thirty-second
parallel of latitude in 1853, and second
survey in Southern California, AMI on
the thirty. second parallel lS5E'56.
lie was misunderstanding of the Light
house Board from april, 1885, to March,
1857. Before the WIZ he had been also
chief astronomer and surveyor for de-
terminiDg and making the northwest
boundary between the United States
and the British Provinces.
Parke served on the Union side du-
ring the late war between the southern
and northern States and rose to the
rank of major-general of volunteers and
brcyet major-general of the United
States army, for gallant and meritorious
services. Re was in the combat OF
Roanoke Island battle of Newberne, in
1862 in command of the bomhardment
and reduction Of Fort Macon, n. G.. :;
the battles Of South Mountain and
Antietam, in September, 1862 chief of
staff of the Army of the Potomac under
Burnside; was i'll the battle OF Fred
ericksburg in December, 1862 at the
surrender Of Vicksburg, July 4, 1863 /;
in the Tennessee campaign in the win
ter and spring of 1864; the battles Of
the Wilderness and Spotsylvania in
May, 1864 at the siege OF Petersburg
and the capture of the Confederate in-
trenchments, and at the surrender OF
General Lee at Appomatox Court
house April 8. 1865. From May
to August, 1865, General Parke
was in command of the Dis
trict of Alexandria, Va, and of
the Southern district of New York from
August /, 1865, to January 10, 1866.
At this date he was mustered out OF the
volunteer service OF the United States.
In September, 1866, he was ordered to
resume the duty of chief astronomer
and surveyor for determining and max
ing the northwest boundary line, ac-
cording to the treaty of 1916, between
the United States and the British Pro-
vinces. His duties since then have
been in the Engineer Bureau Of the
War Department.
General Parke is man OF fine ply
sique, tall and stout, with piercing dark
eyes and black hair, which in the past
few years has become tinged with sill
yerthreads.